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Indian anti-hunger activist wins Queen’s Young Leader Award
New Delhi, Nov 30 (PTI) Indian anti-hunger activist Ankit Kawatra has been chosen for the Queen’s Young Leaders award today for his exceptional work in transforming the lives of others.
Kawatra, who is the founder of Feeding India, a not-for profit organization that aims to solve hunger, malnutrition and food waste in the country, is among the 60 individuals from across the globe to have been selected for the award.
“It is an honour to be selected as a the Queen’s Young Leader and represent India. As a person who works on ground to fight hunger and to ensure that excess food is not wasted but instead is given to people in need, this award gives me encouragement to do more and better.
“I believe that hunger can be ended and this award for my work has given me the motivation to work harder towards zero hunger for all of us. The journey has only begun,” Kawatra said in a statement.
He will be felicitated with the award by Queen Elizabeth (II) at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace in June next year, over the course of a week-long residential programme in the United Kingdom.
Kawatra, who was also selected as one of the 17 United Nations Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals during the 71st United Nations General Assembly this year, left his corporate job to undertake the challenging mission of making the worl hunger-free.
“I will leave no stone unturned to gain from this experience and apply it to fighting hunger with Feeding India,” he said.
The winners will also undergo a year-long mentoring and online learning by the University of Cambridge to build leadership capabilities and better their work towards the communities.
Established in 2014, the award is presented by Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to recognise young people from across the 53 countries of the Commonwealth who are “taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities.” PTI TRS BK
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